Spring Term | Tymor y Gwanwyn

A very warm welcome to our Winter Term newsletter, where you will find lots of information about what has been going on in our school over the last few weeks.  We have had a very busy term so far and I am delighted to see so many articles celebrating the impressive achievements of our young people. I am also proud to be reminded of the many visitors we have welcomed who have provided interesting, engaging and informative support to our pupils, who, as always, are enthusiastic and positive about our school community. Finally, I would like to congratulate our pupils who are preparing for examinations this summer.  They have really stepped up and are rising to the challenge of the hard work and revision that is needed to achieve the success they so deserve.  Many thanks to our dedicated team of teachers and support staff who are going the extra mile to support our pupils as the examinations fast approach. 

Pob lwc, pawb.

Mrs N Davies

Pennaeth | Headteacher

Our 2022 GCSE Art students have created some incredible artwork covering a wide range of subjects showcasing a diversity of styles and techniques. We are incredibly proud of our students and their achievements. Their hard work and dedication to their craft are truly inspiring, and we are excited to see where their artistic journeys take them in the future. The level of skill and creativity demonstrated by these young artists is a testament to their passion and commitment to the arts.

This term has been a busy one for both our pupils and Senedd members. In November, we raised an impressive £625 for Children in Need, and in December, we held our annual Heolddu Christmas Fayre, which was a fantastic afternoon filled with festive fun.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all the pupils and staff who helped support the stalls, enabling us to raise a whopping £300. It's heartening to see our school community coming together and working hard to make a difference. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to making these events a success.

Year 7 meet Eloise Williams! 

Bargoed Library kindly invited two classes from Year 7 to the library for a workshop with the children’s author and former Children’s Laureate Wales, Eloise Williams. We spent the morning hearing about what inspired her writing, listening to excerpts from her novels, and participating in a Q&A session. It was a fantastic morning, and the pupils were all lucky enough to receive a signed postcard from Eloise as well! Many thanks to Mrs Wilkinson, Miss Jones, Mr Stone, and the PGCE students for supporting this session.

Grinch-mas Breakfast Celebration 

To celebrate all the hard work and effort we have seen within our English lessons so far this year, Team English nominated two pupils from each class to join them for a Grinch-themed Christmas breakfast. The pupils enjoyed a breakfast buffet, songs, and games. So much fun was had that we are certain even the Grinch's heart would have melted a little!

Through participating in group activities and events, students can learn how to work effectively with others and develop important skills that can benefit them in all areas of life. They can also learn how to cope with disappointment and failure, as well as how to manage success and achievement. Finally, celebrating cultural and sporting events can be an excellent way to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles among students. By participating in sports events and activities such as football, basketball, or athletics, students can develop a love of physical activity and exercise, which can have long-term health benefits

Personal and social education (PSE) is a critical component of comprehensive education that prepares students for their adult lives. PSE encompasses a wide range of topics related to personal development, relationships, health and well-being, and social issues.

PSE plays an integral role in developing the whole pupil, as highlighted below:

In summary, personal and social education is essential for the holistic development of students. It equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their personal and professional lives and to contribute positively to society. During PSE week, Ysgol Heolddu had over 20 specialist visitors supporting year groups in targeted developmental areas such as LLamau, Police Liaison Officers, Force Fitness, Bullies Out, Regener8, Army, School Health Nurse, and Maximise Study skills, to name a few.

Language Teacher of the Year Award / Gwobr Athro Iaith y Flwyddyn

Mr English came second place in the Institut Francais Language Teacher of the Year contest, which is a testament to his hard work and dedication to language teaching. He is a passionate teacher who inspires his students to learn French, creating a positive and encouraging learning environment. He is always willing to help his colleagues, showing his dedication to his profession and the success of his students. 

We are very proud of Mr English and confident that he will continue to inspire and motivate his students to become accomplished French speakers. Félicitations, Mr English, on this great achievement!

Pupil Language Ambassadors - FIFA World Cup 2022

Last term, our Pupil Language Ambassadors organized a range of activities to mark the occasion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to expand cultural awareness of the countries taking part. Each registration class was randomly allocated a country and had to learn as much about that country as they could. There was a series of competitions for which pupils had to design a bucket hat, find the best facts about their country, and learn some of the national anthems. Staff and pupils decorated their rooms with national flags and other displays. We received many superb entries for each of the competitions and loved seeing the cultural displays around the school. Well done to our winners, 8PPH, and a huge thank you to our ambassadors for their hard work and dedication once again.

LRC Library Reopening / Ailagor Llyfrgell y CAD

The LRC Library has been a hub of activity since its reopening in October, with 603 books being borrowed by eager students. The school is proud to announce that 7 pupils from years 7, 8, and 9 have earned their Bronze reading award. These pupils have made a significant effort to borrow and read 10 books from the library.

Silver Award for Remarkable Dedication to Reading / Gwobr Arian am Ymroddiad Anhygoel i Ddarllen

We would also like to extend our congratulations to a student from year 9 who has achieved the Silver award. This individual has shown an exceptional love for reading by borrowing and reading 20 books from the library. This is a remarkable feat that showcases the student's dedication and passion for literature. These achievements are a testament to the hard work and commitment of both the students and the staff at the LRC Library.

Times Tables Rockstars

We have been working with our Year 8 pupils during tutor time to help them improve their multiplication skills. Pupils have been using blocks to help them count and visualize their times tables, and playing the online game "Times Tables Rock Stars" to increase their multiplication speed.

I am thrilled to report that the program has been a great success so far. The pupils have shown significant improvement in their multiplication skills, and their confidence has grown as a result. The use of blocks has been particularly helpful as it has allowed them to better understand the concepts of multiplication and visualize the relationships between numbers.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our 6th form pupils and staff for their invaluable help in implementing this program. They have been instrumental in the success of the intervention and have been fantastic role models for our Year 8 pupils. Their patience, enthusiasm, and dedication to helping the younger pupils have been truly inspiring, and we are grateful for their support.

At Heolddu Comprehensive School, we are committed to providing our pupils with the best possible education, and we believe that this intervention program is a great example of how we can work together to achieve this. We will continue to monitor the progress of our pupils and provide them with the support they need to succeed.